Inadequate management of medicines by the older-aged living in a retirement village

Abstract

Background A comparison of the management of medicines by the older-aged living in freehold (fully owned) and rental homes in retirement villages has suggested that the older-aged living in rental, but not freehold, retirement villages may require help to manage their medicines. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the management of medicines by the older-aged living independently in a leasehold (partly owned) home in retirement village to determine whether they also need help in managing their medicines. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 older-aged residents living in a leasehold retirement village. Main outcome measure The main outcome measure was the perception of present and ongoing adherence. Results Amongst participants in the leasehold retirement village, with an average age of 82.9 years, the perceptions of present and ongoing adherence indicated that only 55 % of older-aged participants were adherent at the time of the study, and not likely to have problems with adherence within the next 6–12 months. Participants from the leasehold retirement village had a good understanding of 58 % of their illnesses. A mean of 9.8 medicines per person were prescribed. Cardiovascular medicines were the most commonly prescribed at 86 %. Conclusion The older-aged living in leasehold retirement villages may require extra assistance/resources to manage their medicines.